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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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December 20, 2014 · Cessna 180J · N393B

Nome, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
December 20, 2014
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Nome, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 180J (1973)
Tail Number
N393B
Operator
Otton Darrin L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
ANC15IA006

The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane made an uncommanded hard right turn. He attempted to correct for the right turn with left rudder, but the airplane continued turning right. The pilot then input nearly full left aileron, and the airplane began a gradual left turn. After the pilot returned the ailerons to the neutral position, the airplane again immediately turned right. The pilot corrected with left aileron and then made an emergency landing to the departure runway. During the emergency landing, the airplane veered right, exited the runway, and impacted a snow berm, which resulted in minor damage to the landing gear. Examination of the rudder control system revealed that the right tailwheel steering cable had jumped off its pulley and became bound between the pulley and the pulley bracket, which disabled the rudder system. The pulley's guard pin was in place, and the steering cable had separated about 9 inches from the rudder bellcrank and exhibited features consistent with overload.

NTSB Probable Cause

The disengagement and subsequent binding of the right tailwheel steering cable, which disabled the rudder system.

Full Narrative

On December 20, 2014, about 1030 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 180J airplane, N393B, experienced a flight control anomaly after takeoff, and an emergency landing was performed to the Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, when the incident occurred. The solo certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Nome, Alaska, about 1025 destined for Council, Alaska. The pilot reported that about three seconds after takeoff the airplane made an uncommanded hard right turn, he attempted to correct for the right turn with left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. The pilot then inputted nearly full left aileron, and the airplane began a gradual left turn. After returning the ailerons to the neutral position, the airplane once again made an immediate right turn. The pilot corrected with left aileron, and made an emergency landing to runway 28 at the Nome Airport. During the emergency landing the airplane veered to the right, exited the runway and impacted a snow berm sustaining minor damage to the landing gear. The airplane was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector. From the pilot's position, the rudder is controlled by two cables which proceed from the rudder control bar, make about a 90 degree turn toward the tail via two phenolic pulleys and attach to their respective rudder bellcranks. Two cables then proceed from the top of the rudder bellcranks to their respective attach points on the rudder control horn, while two tailwheel steering cables attach to the lower rudder bellcranks make about a 90 degree turn via two phenolic pulleys to their respective attach points on the tailwheel. During the inspection, the inspector reported that the right tailwheel steering cable had jumped off its pulley and became bound between the pulley and the pulley bracket, disabling the rudder system. He noted that the pulley's guard pin was in place, and that the steering cable had separated approximately 9 inches from the rudder bellcrank, and exhibited features consistent with overload. The closest weather reporting facility was Nome Airport. At 1053, a weather observation from Nome Airport was reporting, in part: wind calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; scattered clouds at 25,000 feet, temperature, 9 degrees F; dew point 3 degrees F; altimeter, 29.30 inHG.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time10:30 AKST
Nearest AirportNome Airport (0nm)
Runway28
Runway Length6001 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 180J
Tail NumberN393B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorOtton Darrin L
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · IO-470-R · Reciprocating · 265
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 47 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point9 C / 3 C
Altimeter29.29 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data